Take 5-5", 12 Block Hawaiian

I got to looking at the wonderful Take 5 pattern by Teachers Pet and thought that it should work for my 5"x 9 1/2" as well--the orginal size is only slightly smaller.  I had done it scrappy before, rather than the 5 fabrics the pattern calls for, so I know it looks great.  And it is a fast and fun pattern any way you do it--5 fabrics or scraps.  Using up scraps fast makes it a great service quilt.

It only uses 1 5"x 9 1/2" per block.  But it does uses 3 5" squares.  We have plenty of our 5" Charm Squares.  And when I can't get any more 5"x 9 1/2" Slices from a scrap of fabric, I cut 5" squares, so I have stacks of those, too.  The big square is 9 1/2".  I don't have those precut in stacks, but it is easy to grab some collection of scraps that is calling to me with a color or pattern theme.  I cut whatever is possible into 9 1/2" squares, then whatever possible into 5" x 9 1/2" slices, then 5" squares from the lefovers. 

This quilt is made with just 12 blocks.  Twelve is such a fast and easy number to make.  Then they are laid out 3x4, tossed and turned any way that looks good. 

Block size is 13 1/2".  Quilt top before borders is 40x54.  Bordered with 6" it is 52x68--another great size for a youth or adult throw.

BUSTED!  12  5"x 9 1/2" Slices.  36  5" squares.  2 or 3 fabrics are gone after cutting the 9 1/2" squares, and some Slices and 5" squares.  3  2 1/2" green strips, cut in half for the inner border all gone.  Border fabric was a back trimming, now all gone with the border and blocks in this quilt.  Binding all gone, a piece just the right size from the scrap heap.  This quilt is actually the 3rd done from a box of Hawaiian fabric squares and scraps, and the box no longer exists.

Band Block 2

Before I finished the first Band Block I had this one in mind.  It has the same half light block, half dark blocks plan.  Instead of matching the block with the Band piece, I put the same contrast color on both.  I had the Red, White and Blue theme in mind, and this is how it worked out--pretty well, I think.

Cut sizes:  26 5"x 9" Blue to make 13 blocks.  24  5"x 9" Tan to make 12 blocks.  25  3"x 9 1/2" for the Contrast Band pieces on each block.

These sizes are flexible.  This is just what I had around in Slices and 3" binding scraps of Red.

Again, columns 1,3 and 5 have the Red Band on the top.  The alternate columns 2 and 4 have the Red Band on the bottom.

Block size is 9"x11".  Top before border is 45"x 55".  Finished size with 4" cut border (all I could cut) is 52"x 62".  A 6" border would make an even nicer size.

NOTE:  I am now cutting all of my scraps into 5" x 9 1/2".  This band block still works with the old size, because it does not have to be turned sideways.

BUSTED!  Some 5x9 slices, some 3" binding scraps for the Bands.  ALL of the border fabric.  Some binding scraps for the red, white and blue scrappy binding.

Band Block 1

This latest is made in blocks. Two slices are sewn together down the length, then a band or strip sewn across one end.

Cut Sizes are: Pam Cake Slices 5"x 9", Bands 2 1/2"x 9 1/2". Any size slice or band will work--the block does not have to be square, since it will not be turned.

There are 25 Blocks that finish 9" x 10 1/2" to make a top 45x52 before borders, 54x62 with my 5" border.

I made all-dark blocks and all-light blocks. It took 26 Slices and 13 Bands of dark to make 13 Dark Blocks. It took 24 Slices and 12 Bands of light to make 12 Light Blocks.

From the picture you can see how the Dark and Light Blocks are alternated. And in the alternating columns the bands are either on all on the top or all on the bottom.

This was a fast one to do. Making blocks is actually a very fast way to assemble.

NOTE:  I have since changed to cutting all of my Pam Cakes slices 5"x 9 1/2"  I have loads of 5"x 9" to use up, so I will continue to come up with designs that don't need that extra 1/2" to fit together.

BUSTED!   I used precut Slices and scraps from the 2 1/2" stash.  I used up a scrap for the border--the size I chose to cut it was the size that allowed me to use it up. Binding and back were old pieces from Pam's stash.

It All Started Here

We gave Color Queen Pam Howland the challenge of designing a quilt using fat eighths, or rather 11"x22" cuts of 20 Kaffe Fassett fabrics from our latest shipment. We had started cutting packs of fabrics that we called Sheet Cakes--20 11"x 22". This was our answer to Moda's Layer Cakes, 40 10" squares. From our Sheet Cakes, 40 10" squares can be cut to use any Layer Cake pattern. Plus, we began to design patterns for other ways to use our Sheet Cake cut.

So Pam came up with the 5"x 9" Slice. It is a very graceful shape and big enough to show off the fabric, small enough to look nice. By cutting a 9" strip first, then the 4 5" slices, the prints always sit right side up. The pack of 20 Sheet Cakes nets 80 Slices. Using 77 of them, she laid the quilt out 11 wide by 7 tall. With borders, this makes a very generous sized throw.

NOTE: I have since changed the Pam Cakes slice to 5"x 9 1/2"--much more versatile, as we will see in the future.